MODULE 5: ENDER’S GAME
Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, is a 6 year old boy in a science fiction
version of Earth. He is chosen as part
of a military experiment where children with certain mental, intellectual, and
physical abilities are taken from their families and trained at a young age to
run the military against future battles with an alien enemy determined to destroy
humanity. Ender’s older siblings Peter and Valentine have unique gifts, as
well, but not to the level of Ender. While Ender gains recognition through his
success in the studies, computer simulations, and mock battles among the young
soldiers, their jealousy of Ender grows and they build profiles in a computer
network to gain control subtly of the beliefs of the world around them to gain
control as they get older. This is the first installment of a series.
APA Reference of Book:
Card, O. S. (1985). Ender's
Game. New York, NY: Tom Doherty Associates.
Impressions:
Ender Wiggins is only 6 years old when the story begins, but throughout the story he shows wisdom and mental and emotional strength that is rare for an adult, and much more rare for a child! While this is not a genre I chose often, I can see how young readers would enjoy reading about children doing great things and reading about other worlds that are based on the confusing scientific concepts that they are taught in school. The motif of being in a secondary world and switching back from this secondary world to the real world that Ender’s family still lives in can be confusing and intriguing for younger readers and it is something I wasn’t sure I would enjoy myself, but I really did enjoy how Card described the two worlds and kept them connected the way he did.
Ender Wiggins is only 6 years old when the story begins, but throughout the story he shows wisdom and mental and emotional strength that is rare for an adult, and much more rare for a child! While this is not a genre I chose often, I can see how young readers would enjoy reading about children doing great things and reading about other worlds that are based on the confusing scientific concepts that they are taught in school. The motif of being in a secondary world and switching back from this secondary world to the real world that Ender’s family still lives in can be confusing and intriguing for younger readers and it is something I wasn’t sure I would enjoy myself, but I really did enjoy how Card described the two worlds and kept them connected the way he did.
Professional Review:
"A rather one-dimensional but mostly satisfying child-soldier yarn which substantially extends and embellishes one of Card's better short stories (Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories, 1980). Following a barely-defeated invasion attempt by the insect-like alien "buggers," a desperate Earth command resorts to genetic experimentation in order to produce a tactical genius capable of defeating the buggers in round two. (A counterinvasion has already been launched, but will take years to reach the buggers' home planet.) So likable but determined "Ender" Wiggins, age six, becomes Earth's last hope--when his equally talented elder siblings Peter (too vicious and vindictive) and Valentine (too gentle and sympathetic) prove unsuitable. And, in a dramatic, brutally convincing series of war games and computer-fantasies, Ender is forced to realize his military genius, to rely on nothing and no-one but himself. . . and to disregard all rules in order to win. There are some minor, distracting side issues here: wrangles among Ender's adult trainers; an irrelevant subplot involving Peter's attempt to take over Earth. And there'll be no suspense for those familiar with the short story. Still, the long passages focusing on Ender are nearly always enthralling--the details are handled with flair and assurance--and this is altogether a much more solid, mature, and persuasive effort than Card's previous full-length appearances."
"A rather one-dimensional but mostly satisfying child-soldier yarn which substantially extends and embellishes one of Card's better short stories (Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories, 1980). Following a barely-defeated invasion attempt by the insect-like alien "buggers," a desperate Earth command resorts to genetic experimentation in order to produce a tactical genius capable of defeating the buggers in round two. (A counterinvasion has already been launched, but will take years to reach the buggers' home planet.) So likable but determined "Ender" Wiggins, age six, becomes Earth's last hope--when his equally talented elder siblings Peter (too vicious and vindictive) and Valentine (too gentle and sympathetic) prove unsuitable. And, in a dramatic, brutally convincing series of war games and computer-fantasies, Ender is forced to realize his military genius, to rely on nothing and no-one but himself. . . and to disregard all rules in order to win. There are some minor, distracting side issues here: wrangles among Ender's adult trainers; an irrelevant subplot involving Peter's attempt to take over Earth. And there'll be no suspense for those familiar with the short story. Still, the long passages focusing on Ender are nearly always enthralling--the details are handled with flair and assurance--and this is altogether a much more solid, mature, and persuasive effort than Card's previous full-length appearances."
Kirkus
Reviews, (1984). [Ender’s Game]. Kirkus
Reviews.
Library Uses:
Ender’s Game would be a great item to use in a book display of books adapted in to movies focused on the YA audience.
Ender’s Game would be a great item to use in a book display of books adapted in to movies focused on the YA audience.